The total number of ATP produced during glycolysis is

During the process of glycolysis, a single glucose molecule is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. During this metabolic pathway, there is a net gain of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. To understand how many ATP molecules are produced, let's break it down step by step.

1. **Initial ATP Investment:** Glycolysis initially requires an investment of 2 ATP molecules to phosphorylate glucose and convert it into a more reactive form during the early stages of the glycolytic pathway.

2. **ATP Production:** As glycolysis progresses, a total of 4 ATP molecules are produced. This occurs in the later steps of the pathway where adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is phosphorylated to form ATP. This is known as substrate-level phosphorylation.

3. **Net ATP Gain:** To find out the net gain of ATP through glycolysis, simply subtract the initial ATP investment from the total ATP produced:

Net ATP = Total ATP produced - Initial ATP investment

Net ATP = 4 ATP - 2 ATP

Net ATP = 2 ATP

Thus, the net total number of ATP produced during glycolysis is 2 molecules.